Method and apparatus for coating of articles



July 11, 1961 R. E. RUSSELL ETAL 2,992,134

METHOD AND APPARATUS FoR COATT-.NG oF ARTICLES BY arman anrzz'fr l @CQ ATTORNEYS July 11, 1961 R. E. RUSSELL ETAL 2,992,134

METHOD AND APPARATUS RoR coATING oF ARTICLES H TTOR NE YS July l1, 1961 R. E. RUSSELL ET AL 2,992,134

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING OF ARTICLES Filed Aug. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS July l1, 1961 R. E. RUSSELL ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING OF Filed Aug. 18, 1958 FIG. 7

ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 8

Tll|l [160 h v. '-152 43 Q11 I l i l|l| l 26 FIG. IO 4L INVENTORS Faerz Russe/ BY /Varma/i (flan/M77 ATTORNEYS United States Patent F 2,992,134 lVIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING 0F ARTICLES Robert E. Russell, Cheshire, and Norman Chaunin, Wallingford, Coun., assignors to Wallace Silversmiths, Inc.,

Wallingford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Aug. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,612 12 Claims. (Cl. 117-1113) This invention relates to coating of articles. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for coating of articles by dipping the article in -a coating bath.

Articles, such as silverware and flatware, are sometimes coated with various materials, such as polyvinyl acetate lacquers, wax, other lacquers and other materials that will enhance the aesthetic appearance of the articles as Well as provide a protective finish for the articles to prevent tarnishing and other adverse effects to which the articles may be susceptible to. During the coating or plating process the articles undergoing treatment would normally hang lfrom racks during the entire process in t-he same position wherein the articles would lbe supported at one portion thereof. This very often resulted in a slight rack mark at the point of contact of the rack supporting means and the article resulting in an `unsightly and defective surface finishing of the article.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for coating of articles wherein no rack marks will be present to mar the surface finish of the articles. l

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for coating of articles wherein the articles will be supported during the coating process -at separate portions thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for coating of articles wherein the engaged portions of the articles Ifor support of the articles during the coating process will be covered with coating material.

A Ifurther object of the invention is to provide apparatus for coating of articles having means `for transferring the articles from one support means to the other during the coating process.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide irnproved apparatus and method `for dip coating of articles.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be yfully understood from the -following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings, which illustrate the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention:

FIG. l is a perspective View of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, in section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2--2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational View, partly in section, showing the apparatus in the position prior to actuating the lower article engaging means;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational View, partly in section, showing the position of the apparatus wherein transfer of the articles has been completed and the upper support means for the articles has reached its lowermost position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational View, partly in section, showing the lower article support means in its lowered position wherein the article is completely submerged in the coating bath;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, in section, taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a plan View, in section, taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, partly 2,992,134 Patented july 11, 1961` ice in Section, taken in the direction of line 8-8 of FIG. 2, showing the apparatus in the position of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, showing the closed and open positions, A and B, respectively, of the article engaging means; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 2.

Referring no-W to the drawings in detail, there is shown an open framework or receptacle 10 for supporting a tank 12 containing a bath 14 of a coating solution, including, but not limited to, such coating materials as polyvinyl acetate lacquers, wax, and other lacquers and anti-tarnish solutions. Suspended from each of the sides 16 of tank 12 are vertical plate members 18, `being connected to each other at their lower portions by transverse channel member 2), channel member 20 extending across the lower portion of tank 12. Channel member 20 is connected to plate members 18 by suitable means such as welding.. The plate members and connecting channel member assembly is mounted for easy removal from tank 12. The mounting for the assembly of plate members 18 and channel member 20 and the lower article support rack supported thereon, as will be explained more fully herein-- after, includes plate members 22 and a nut and bolt assembly 24 connecting plate members 22 to plate members 18.. A vertically extending slot 26 is provided in the upper' edge of each of sides 16 of tank 12 wherein the entire assembly, including the lower article support rack, to bedescribed, may be easily removed fromtank 12 `by merely' lifting the assembly upwardly therefrom. Cutouts 27" may be provided in the sides of receptacle 1t) to provide a clear area for attaching means for lifting the assembly.

Near each end of channel member 20 there is provided a U-shaped bracket member 28. Supported on the bottom of each of bracket members 28 is a compression spring 30 for resiliently supporting a lower article support rack assembly 32. It will be understood that compression springs 30 pass upwardly through suitable holes 31 in channel member 20. Lower article support assembly 32 comprises two vertically extending laterally spaced members 34, each member having a collar 36 against which the upper portion of compression spring 30 abuts.- Immediately below collar 36 is an enlarged portion 38 for positioning spring 30 on its seat against collar 36. Extending from and below enlarged portion 38 is an elongated rod member 40 having a threaded end 42 to which nut 44 is mounted, to limit the upward movement of lower article support rack assembly 32, it being understood that rod member 40 passes through holes 41 in the bottom of U-shaped bracket member 28. Extending upwardly from collar 36 is another enlarged portion 46 to which is mounted by suitable means, such as welding, a transverse plate 48, plate 48 connecting vertical members 34 to each other. Depending from transverse plate 48 is another transverse plate 50 connected to portions 46 and vertical spaced members 34 as by welding. At the upper portion of vertical spaced member 34 is an elongated rod 52 having a ball shaped end 54 to be engaged with a socket as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Mounted for limited sliding movement on plate 48 is an upper plate member 56 and a lower plate member 58, plate members 56 and 58 being held in position for movement relative to plate 48 and to each other by screws 60. Slots 62 are provided in each of plate members 56 and 58 `to permit relative movement of the plates with ref spect to each other and stationary screws 60. Along the heads of screws 57 for attaching Z-shaped article.

engaging spring members 64, which may project above and below the surfaces of plates 56 and 58, respectively. Members 64 may be made from spring steel. It will be noted that the article engaging members on lower plate member 58 comprise a plurality of individual Z-shaped members 66, mounted to the under surface of plate member 58 by suitableV screws 57, having the legs of the Z going from right to left to right as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 9. The individual Z-shaped members 68 which are mounted along the edge of upper plate member 56, on the top surface thereof, have the legs of the Z disposed in an opposite direction from the legs of Z members 66, running from left to right to left as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 9. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that upon actuation of plate members 56 and 58, as will be discussed more fully hereinafter, members 66 and 68 cooperate to form engaging means to support an article such as spoon 70.

Along one side edge of plate 48 there is provided a cutout 72 for passage of actuating member 74 for plate members 56 and 58 on the lower article support assembly, member 74 providing means for actuating similar plates on the upper article support assembly which will be more fully discussed hereinafter. Slots 71 and 73 are also provided in plates 56 and 58, respectively, for passage of actuating member 74 therethrough. (See FIGS. 7 and 8.) Depending from plate member 56 is lug 76 which passes through slot 78 in plate member 58. A similar lug 80 is fastened to and depending from plate 58, both lugs 76 and 80 passing through cut-out 72 in plate 48. Pivotally mounted to each of lugs 76 and 80 are follower members 82 having rollers 84 at each of their respective ends for engagement with the sides and lower cam surfaces of actuating member 74. Extending from transverse plate 50 are pivot pins 86 to which follower members 82 are pivotally mounted. Tension spring 88 is attached to each of follower members 82 below pivot pins 86 to bias plate members 56 and 58 and article engaging members 64 into an open position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9A. A basket 87, for supporting articles, such as spoon 70, is attached to plate 48 by suitable means.

Actuating member 74 for both the lower article support rack assembly 32, and the upper article support rack assembly, to be described fully hereinafter, is an L- shaped member lixedly mounted to channel member 20, the short leg 90 of the L supporting the member on the channel. Upwardly, along the -length of actuating member 74, the side edges 92 converge to form lower cam surfaces 94 for engagement with follower members 82 for actuation of plate members 56 and 58. Adjustably mounted in groove 96, for sliding movement therein, is an elongated rod 98 having slots 100 therein which permit vertical adjustment of rod 98, screws 102 being provided to hold rod 98 in groove 96. Mounted at the upper end of rod 98 is an enlarged headed member 104 having upper cam surfaces 106 thereon for actuating the plates of the upper article support rack assembly, to be described hereinafter.

Mounted to the outer sides of framework are two upstanding channel members 108 connected by a cross member 110 having guide means 112 for guiding each of rod members 114 of the mounting mechanism 116 for the upper article support rack assembly 118. FiXedly mounted to cross member 110 is a cylinder 120 having a piston 122 therein, piston rod 124 being attached to a cross beam 126. Mounted to the lower ends of each of rod members 114 is a cylinder 128 to which cross beam 126 is attached. Each of cylinders 128 is provided with a slot 130 in the wall of the cylinder, through which a cross beamY 132 projects, cross beam 132 being supported on the bottom 134.0f cylinder 128. Biasing cross beam 132 against the bottom 134 of the cylinder is a compression spring 136. Depending from the bottom of cylinder 128/ is a part 138 provided with a socket 140 to re- 4 ceive the ball shaped end 54 of rod 52 of the lower article support rack assembly 32 as best seen in FIGS. l, 3, and 4.

Extending from the front surface of cross beam 132 are two headed pins, 142, for supporting the upper article support rack assembly 118 thereon. Upper article support rack assembly 118 consists of a transversely extending T-shaped member 144 having a Vertical leg 146 and a horizontal leg 148, vertical leg 146 being provided with mounting holes 150, said mounting holes being large enough to pass over the heads of pins 142. Pivotally mounted to vertical leg 146 of T-shaped member 144 are two hand-les 152 for locking upper article support rack assembly `118 to cross beam 132 by engagement of one end of handle 152 with the undersurface of the head of pin 142 and the outer surface of vertical leg 146. It will be seen from the foregoing that upper article support rack assembly 118 may be easily removed from cross beam 132 for mounting thereon articles to be dipped for coating such as spoons 70.

Mounted to the underside of horizontal leg 148 of T-shaped member 144, for sliding movement relative thereto, are upper and lower plate members 154 and 156 respectively, these plate members being similar to plate members 56 and 58 for the lower article support rack assembly. Plate members 154 and 156 are mounted to horizontal leg 148 of T-shaped member 144 for sliding movement relative thereto by screws 158, suitable slots being provided in each of the plate members 154 and 156 to permit relative movement of said plates with respect to stationary screws 158 as was similarly done with plate members 56 and 58. Depending from plate member 154 is a lug 162 passing through slot 164 in plate member 156. A similar `lug 166 depends from plate member 156. Adjustably mounted to the lower edges of each of lugs 162 and 166 are follower members 168 having rollers 170 for engagement with upper cam surfaces 106 of actuating member 74. Slots 172 are provided in follower members 168 for adjustment of the follower members with respect to their respective lugs, screws i174 being provided for adjustably attaching the follower members to their respective lugs. Tension spring 176 is mounted to lugs 162 and 166 to bias plates 154 and 156 so that the upper article engaging members 178 are normally in a closed position. Upper article engaging members 178 are mounted to plate 154 and 156 in the exact same manner as lower article engaging members 64. Z-shaped engaging members 180 are fastened to plate 154 in the exact manner and position as lower Z-shaped Vmembers 66 are fastened to plate 58. Z-shaped engaging members 182 are fastened to plate 156 in the exact same manner and position as Z-shaped member 68 is attached to plate 56. Together engaging members 180 aud 182 cooperate to form the upper engaging support means 178 for an article such as spoon 70 that is undergoing a dip coating process.

The apparatus operates in the following manner. The upper article support rack assembly 118, being normally disconnected from the apparatus initially, is loaded with articles to be dip coated, the upper article engaging members 178 being normally closed under the tension of spring 176. The rack assembly 118 is then mounted on pins 142 on cross beam 132, the assembly being locked in place by handles 152. Normally piston 122 would have been operated so that mounting mechanism 116 would be in a raised position disengaged from lower rack support assembly 32, it being understood that engagement of these two assemblies occurs between ball shaped end 54 of rod 52 and socket 140 in part 138. The lower article engaging members 64 wil-l be in the open position since plates 56 and 58 are normally biased into open position under the tension of spring 88. This open position of the lower article engaging members 64 and the closed position of the upper article engaging members 178 is illustrated in FIGURE 9A. It will be understood that the position of the engaging members in FIG- URE 9A is the same position as the position of the engaging members in FIGURE 3. After the upper article support rack assembly 118 has been placed on mounting mechanism 116, piston 122 is operated to lower mounting mechanism 116 and the upper article support assembly 118 together toward the lower article support rack assembly 32, the lower portion of article lll being lowered into bath 14. This position of the apparatus is shown in FIGURE 3. It will be noted that the normal supported position of lower article support assembly 32, under the biasing action of springs 30, is such that follower members 82 are in contact with the top of lower cam surfaces 94. As upper article support assembly 118 is lowered further mounting mechanism 116 will engage elongated rods 52, proper alignment upon engagement being assured through ball shaped ends 54 of rods 52 and sockets 140 in parts 138, together forming ball and socket joints. It will be appreciated that proper alignment is necessary between these two assemblies in order to assure that the upper article engaging members and the lower article engaging members are properly aligned for proper transfer of the articles from one engaging member to the other. When rods 52 are engaged by mechanism 116 the bottom of article 70 will be at or near the bottom of basket 87. Further movement of mounting mechanism 116 downwardly will cause lower article support assembly 32 to be lowered further into bath =14 against the upward force of compression spring 30, both the upper article support assembly 118 and the lower article support assembly 32 moving downwardly together in unison. This continued movement will cause the lower article engaging members 64 to commence to close as follower members 82 pivot about pivot pins 86 as rollers 84 abut against cam surfaces 94 causing plates 56 and 58 to move to closing positions. When mounting mechanism 116 abuts against rods 52 upper cam surfaces 106 will be in contact with follower members 168 for the upper article engaging members 178, so that upon further downward movement of mounting mechanism 116 upper article engaging members 178 will begin to open as plates 154 and 156 are caused to move into an open position by the action of follower membersv 168 against upper cam surfaces 106. Thus it will be seen from the foregoing that transfer of articles 70 from the upper support assembly to the lower support assembly has been initiated.

Further downward movement of both upper and lower article support assemblies 118 and 32, respectively, will cause actuating member 74 at the top 10S of cam surfaces 106 to abut up against the underside of plate member 156 thereby preventing further downward movement of upper article support rack assembly 118, said top 105 functioning to provide a stop for the upper rack assembly. This position of the apparatus is shown in FIGURE 4. It will be noted from FIGURE 4 that lower article engaging members 64 have completely closed and that upper article engaging members 178 have completely opened thereby completing the transfer of articles 70 from the upper article support assembly to the lower article support assembly. It should be understood that the Z-shaped engaging members only hold the articles in position to prevent their tilting and the articles are supported in the lower support position by basket 87 and in the upper support position by the enlarged head of spoon 70 bearing against the cooperating engaging members 180 and 182. It will also be noted that upper support rack assembly 118 and its engaging members 178 at no time enter the coating bath. The position of the engaging members shown in FIGURE 4, wherein the upper article engaging members are in the open position and the lower article engaging members are in the closed position may be seen more clearly in FIGURE 9B. Upon further downward movement of mounting mechanism 116 lower article support rack assembly 32 will be lowered further into the coating bath thereby submerging article 711 in the bath. The upper portion of article 70 which was engaged previously for support of the article by the upper article support rack assembly 118 will, of course, be completely covered with coa-ting material. Downward movement of cylinders 128 will cause cross beam 132 to compress springs 136 as is shown in lFIGURE 5, movement of cross beam 132 being prevented by engagement of actuating member 74 with the upper article support rack assembly 118. Cross beam 132 is free to move in slots 130` in cylinder 1128-.

After article 70 has been submerged in the coating bath the movement of piston 122 is reversed and lower article support rack assembly 32 is raised, under the biasing action of springs 30, wherein the upper portion of article 70 will rise above the level of the coating bath 14 to the position shown in FIGURE 4. Upon further upward movement cross beam 132 will bear up against bottom portion 134 of cylinder 128 thereby causing the upper article support rack assembly 118 to move together again in unison with the lower article support rack assembly 32. Further upward movement will cause the upper follower members and the lower follower members 168 and 82, respectively, to engage their respective cam surfaces 106 and 94 causing upper engaging members 178 and lower engaging members 64 to be actuated, the upper engaging members closing and the lower engaging members opening. It will be understood that the upper engaging members will engage the upper portion of article 70 after the coating on the upper portion of the article has set thereby preventing marring of the coated upper portion of the article which is engaged by the upper engaging members 178. Continued upward movement will cause the upper article engaging members to close completely and the lower article engaging members to open completely thereby effecting transfer of the articles from the lower article support assembly 32 to the upper article support assembly 118. In this position of the apparatus it will be noted that the lower portion of article 70, which was previously engaged by the lower engaging members 64, is still below the surface of the coating bath so that that portion of the article is covered with coating material. Further movement of the apparatus in an upward direction will remove the articles completely from the coating bath wherein they may be removed from the upper article support rack assembly 118. It will be understood that depending upon the physical and chemical characteristics of the coating bath employed and the rate of withdrawal on the articles from the bath the best position at which the engaging members will be actuated may be determined. Actuating member 74 may be adjusted in groove 96 for these varying conditions to alter the position for actuating the upper article engaging members 17.8.

While we have shown and described the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described and that in the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of the invention. Accordingly, we do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown or described herein, except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having -thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for coating articles, comprising a tank having a coating bath therein, means for moving said articles into and out of said tank for the coating operation comprising first movable support means for said articles mounted above said tank, second movable support means for said articles mounted in said tank, each of said article support means comprising, two plates mounted for sliding movement relative to each other, each of said plates having follower means depending therefrom and cooperating engaging members for said articles and means on said apparatus in the path of movement of said article support means for actuating said plate follower means for causing the engaging means on one article support means to open as the engaging means on the other article support means closes to effect transfer of said articles from one support means to the other support means.

2. Apparatus for coating articles, comprising a tank having coating material therein, means for moving said articles into and out of said tank for the coating operation comprising first article support means, a first device for mounting said first article support means above said tank, means for moving said first mounting device and said first article support means toward and away from said tank, second article support means, a second device for mounting said second article support means in said tank, said first and second mounting devices having cooperating means for moving said second article support means upon engagement of said second mounting device by said first mounting device, and means on said apparatus responsive to movement of both of said article support means for transfering said articles from one support means to the other to permit said coating material to be applied over the entire surfaces of said articles.

3. Apparatus for dip coating of articles, comprising a tank having a coating bath therein, means for moving said articles into and out of said tank yfor the coating operation comprising first article support means mounted above said tank for supporting said article at one part thereof, second article support means mounted in said tank for supporting said articles at another part thereof, means for transferring said articles from one support means to the other in a predetermined time sequence whereby both supported parts of said articles are eX- posed to coating material, comprising, means for actuating said first article support means toward and away from said tank, said actuating means including means for cooperating with said second article support means for moving said second article support means in said tank upon engagement therewith, and means for operating both of said article support means upon movement of the both of said article support means for releasing one part of said article and engaging the other part of said article for support thereof when the coating on said second engaged part has set.

4. Apparatus for dip coating of articles, comprising a tank having a coating bath therein, iirst article support means, means for mounting said first article support means for vertical up and down movement toward and away from said tank, second article support means, means for mounting said second article support means for vertical up and down movement in said tank, said first article support means having means for engaging one part of said article, said second article support means having means for engaging another part of said article and having a support member for said article, and means for actuating said article engaging means on said article support means upon movement of both of said article support means for releasing said one part of said article and engaging said other part of said article when the coating on said other part has set.

5. Apparatus for dip coating of articles, comprising a `tank having a coating bath therein, first article support means, means for mounting said firs-t article support means for vertical up and down movements toward and away from said tank, second article support means, means for mounting said second article support means for vertical up and down movement in said tank, said mounting means for said first article support means having cooperating means for actuating said second article support means upon engagement therewith, said first article support means having means for engaging one part of said article, said second article support means having means for engaging another part of said article and having a support member for said article, and means for actuating both of said article engaging means upon movement of both of said article support means for releasing said one part of said article and engaging said other part of said article when the coating on said other part has set.

6. Apparatus for dip coating of articles, comprising a tank for coating material, first article support means, means for mounting said first article support means for vertical movement toward and away from said tank, said first article support means having means for engaging the lupper portions of said articles, second article support means, means for mounting said second article support means for movement in said tank, said second article support means having means for engaging the lower portions o-f said articles, and means responsive to movement of said article support means for actuating both of said article engaging means together for transferring said articles from one support means to the other, said article engaging actuating means, comprising, upper and lower `cam surfaces, said upper cam surface comprising means for controlling said first article support engaging means, said lower cam surfaces comprising means for controlling said second article support engaging means, said article engaging actuating means having stop means for arresting further movement of said first article support means in its lowermcst position.

7. Apparatus for dip coating of articles, comprising a tank for coating material, rst article support means mounted above said tank, second articlesupport means mounted in said tank, means for mounting each of said article support means for vertical reciprocating movement, said mounting means for said first article support means having cooperating means for actuating said second article support means upon engagement therewith, each of said article support means, comprising, two plates mounted for sliding movement relative to each other, each of said plates including cooperating engaging members for said articles and follower means depending from each of said plates, and actuating means for engagement with said follower means upon movement of both of said article support means to transfer said articles from one article support means to the other whereby engagement of said articles by said other support means occurs when said coating material has set to prevent surface marring of said articles.

8. Apparatus for dip coating of articles, comprising a tank for coating material, first article support means mounted above said tank, second article support means mounted in said tank, means for mounting each of said article support means for vertical reciprocating movement, the mounting means of said first article support means having cooperating means for actuating said second article support means upon engagement therewith, each of said article support means including cooperating engaging members for said articles, the engaging members of one of said article support means having biasing means for keeping said engaging members in an open position, said other engaging members of said other article support means having biasing means for keeping said other engaging members closed, and actuating means on said apparatus for operating said engaging members upon movement of both of said article support means to open one of said engaging members and close the other of said engaging means to effect transfer of said ar-ticles from one support means to the other, said actuating means including means to effect said transfer of said articles when the coated surfaces of said articles have set to prevent surface marring of said articles.

9. In apparatus for dip coating of articles; article support means comprising two plates superimposed on each other, means connecting said plates to each other for sliding movements relative thereto, a plurality of cooperating engaging members mounted to each of said plates, means operatively connected to each of said plates for biasing said engaging members into one position, and means on said apparatus in the path of movement of said article support means for actuating said plates and said engaging members into another position.

10. In apparatus for dip coating of articles; iirst article support means, second article support means, means for mounting said iirst article support means for movement toward and `away from said second article support means, said mounting means having means for actuating said second article support upon engagement therewith, said tlirst article support means being mounted in said mounting means -for sliding movement therein, and means on said apparatus in the path of movement of said first article support means for preventing further movement of said first article support means upon engagement therewith as further movement of said mounting means actuates said second article support means.

11. Method of dip coating articles, comprising engaging an article at one portion thereof for support of said article at said engaged portion, placing the other portion of said article in a coating bath for the partial submersion thereof, engaging said other portion of said article while said other portion is in said coating bath for support of said article at said other engaged portion, releasing the engagement of said one portion of said article while said other portion is still in said coating bath, moving said article from its partially submerged condition entirely into said bath so as to completely submerge said article in said bath, raising said article from said bath for exposing one portion of said article for drying the coating on said portion, engaging said one portion of said article as said coating on said one portion sets for support of said article at said one portion, releasing the engagement of said other portion of said article, and lifting said article from said bath.

l2. Method of dip coating of articles, comprising engaging an upper portion of an article for support of said article at said upper portion, lowering said article by the engaged upper portion thereof and submerging a lower portion thereof into a coating bath, engaging said lower portion of said article for support of said article at said lower portion in said bath, releasing the engagement of said upper portion of said article, lowering said article further into said coating bath by the engaged lower portion thereof wherein said upper portion of said article is below the surface of said coating bath, raising said article partially from said bath by the engaged lower portion thereof to expose said upper portion of said article for drying the coating on said upper portion, engaging said upper portion of said article after said coating has set for support of said article at said engaged upper portion, releasing said lower portion of said article and lifting said article further from said bath by the engaged upper portion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 441,839 Greenfield et al. Dec. 2, 1890 1,462,608 KMarshall July 24, 1923 1,792,187 Robertson Feb. 10, 1931 2,114,974 Camerota Apr. 19, 1938 2,127,548 Boyle et al Aug. 23, 1938 2,844,122 Kritscher July 22, 1958 2,863,379 AokleS Dec. 9, 1958 

11. METHOD OF DIP COATING ARTICLES, COMPRISING ENGAGING AN ARTICLE AT ONE PORTION THEREOF FOR SUPPORT OF SAID ARTICLE AT SAID ENGAGED PORTION, PLACING THE OTHER PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE IN A COATING BATH FOR THE PARTIAL SUBMERSION THEREOF, ENGAGING SAID OTHER PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE WHILE SAID OTHER PORTION IS IN SAID COATING BATH FOR EXSAID ARTICLE AT SAID OTHER ENGAGED PORTION, RELEASING THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ONE PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE WHILE SAID OTHER PORTION IS STILL IN SAID COATING BATH, MOVING SAID ARTICLE FROM ITS PARTIALLY SUBMERGED CONDITION ENTIRELY INTO SAID BATH SO AS TO COMPLETELY SUBMERGE SAID ARTICLE IN SAID BATH, RAISING SAID ARTICLE FROM SAID BATH FOR EXPOSING ONE PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE FOR DRYING THE COATING ON SAID PORTION, ENGAGING SAID ONE PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE AS SAID COATING ON SAID ONE PORTION SETS FOR SUPPORT OF SAID ARTICLE AT SAID ONE PORTION, RELEASING THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID OTHER PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE, AND LIFTING SAID ARTICLE FROM SAID BATH. 